I've got a vacation-altering choice to make!
OK, I own PS3, PSP, and numerous older systems--but let's not worry about that.

I have to buy a game, and beat it during my vacation. I've been looking forward to some solid gaming hours---but now I'm truly stuck.
EVERYONE says to get Call of Duty 4. Yet, I'm not really big on FPS as a genre. I prefer seeing my character, not his gun.
So, regardless of how -I- feel, let's put Call of Duty 4 on my TOP FIVE list.

To review:
Top Five Games To Buy and Beat
-Call of Duty 4

Now, we move on to stuff I'm more keen towards. Heavenly Sword is dropping slowly off my radar into the "I'll get to it eventually" zone, with all these wicked games coming. So, knocking that out of the picture, I'm left with Uncharted: Drakes Fortune, Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools of Destruction, and Assassin's Creed.

Top Five Games To Buy and Beat:
R&CF:ToD
A'sC
CoD4
​F

Then lastly, the major issue. I have been overly aware of how many good games, sequels and otherwise have been cropping up on the Nintendo DS. Personally, I'm not a fan of the system. A portable system with a twig and two screens... it seems inconvient to me. But, that's something I'll have to get over, eh?
Mario and Luigi 2, FFTA2, FF3, FFXII-2, Pokemons, and a future KHII prequel...

Finally,
Top Five Games To Buy and Beat:
Nintendo DS (and a game)
R&CF:ToD
A'sC
CoD4
​F

Hmm. Now that I've put things into perspective with this post, I'm still bewildered!
NDS is expensive... moreso than I planned on spending... Maybe X that one?
The rest though... all solid choices that my buddy would even agree to playing through with me. GARRRRR.
Anyone? Anyone have a suggestion to this? Or another option to further deviate my sanity?

Hmm well have you ever considered buying Disgaea Afternoon of Darkness for the PSP it is quite time consuming, and also why not just put some old games onto your PSP, unless it doesn't have any custom firmware...AH the PSP a very good portable system.

Get the DS and Pokémon Diamond or Pearl. Don't even think about it. Just go and do it right now. Seriously. No questions. You won't regret it.

Generally my understanding is that Drake's Fortune is the best game on that list.  I myself have Assassin's Creed and while it is excellent, people are telling me that Drake's Fortune is better.  Drake's Fortune is generally better regarded than Ratchet as well.  So, I would recommend that!

Get the DS and Pokémon Diamond or Pearl. Don't even think about it. Just go and do it right now. Seriously. No questions. You won't regret it.

Naw. Get a DS, an R4 and a Micro SD card. Then DOWNLOAD Pokemon and any other DS game you want.

And get Contra 4 too.

Don't bother with CoD4. It's currently my favorite game, but doesn't bring anything new to the genre; if you don't like FPSs, you won't like CoD.
Ratchet and Clank, while an awesome game, is really like every other in the series. Unless you're a major fan of it, you can live without it for a while.
Assassin's Creed doesn't have much in the way of FUN replay value, and I have no idea of how Drake's Fortune plays.

I'd say your best bet for variety would be to go DS, but the entire topic is about how you don't have money to throw around. If you're looking for a game to just beat and be done with it, I'd go for one of the aforementioned PS3 titles actually.

Don't bother with CoD4. It's currently my favorite game, but doesn't bring anything new to the genre

But it does everything sooooooo right.

Get an R4DS and support pirates homebrew.
And CoD4 is awesome. If you like multiplayer, it is THE game to get.

Well, I've only played the demo of drakes fortune from the PSN but I was pretty unimpressed. Too many people shooting at you and your shots have to be really precise. It takes a long time to clear out a few guys and that's really not fun.

If you have a ps3 but don't own Folklore you're wrong.

If you have a ps3 but don't own Folklore you're wrong.

If you have a PS3, you're wrong!

If you have a PS3, you're wrong!

I agree with this statement.

That is, until Little Big Planet comes out.

I agree with this statement.

That is, until Little Big Planet comes out.

There are a lot of really good games coming out. Unfortunately for the time being... that's true. The only game I've got so far is NGS and it was really not fun. Kind of felt like DMC except... less good. The last level was incredibly poor in design. They don't allow you to restock on healing supplies (right after a HUGE boss battle)

I really want Ratchet and Clank 5 but I'm not willing to spend $70 on it. Same with Folklore. Those are the only good games I've seen that are OUT. (that appeal to me)

Fortunately the future brings LBP, MSG4, RE5 and... I don't know what else, but it seems to be getting better. Besides, in a year or so I think we'll be seeing another Ratchet game since Future is supposed to be a trilogy.

OK, this is very educational--I'll probably pick up NDS by the end of the week; and rent the PS3 games. It sounds like I'll enjoy them once, and be done with them...

As for CoD4, I think I'll leave it for now. There's a reason for this sudden change of heart; Playstation Official Magazine just introduced me to Haze, which according to EBGames, is coming out late January. It has 4-player co-op, and 24 player online play. It boists adreniline pumping serum called Nector, and some cool sounding online modes.
4-Player offline though, whew... that takes the cake as far as multiplayer on PS3 goes. Something I've been waiting for! (generally don't game by myself, aside PSP at work[soon ][/soon])

Hmm. Well, we'll see how entertaining A'sC and R&CF:ToD are... Who knows, I might just pick up CoD to pass the time until Haze hits the fan. (Haze being my time-killer until GTA4, GTA4 being me killer until--etc. Frigging videogames. Why couldn't I have got addicted to cigarettes? Far less addictive, and probably a tad less expensive.)

Thanks for your help everyone! You can lock this if you'd like.

Why couldn't I have got addicted to cigarettes? Far less addictive, and probably a tad less expensive.)

Most smokers smoke between a half of a pack and two packs of cigarettes every day.  At $3 or more per pack, depending on state and brand, that can add up to several hundred dollars per month.  Do you spend several hundred dollars per month on video games?

Just saying.

Most smokers smoke between a half of a pack and two packs of cigarettes every day.  At $3 or more per pack, depending on state and brand, that can add up to several hundred dollars per month.  Do you spend several hundred dollars per month on video games?

Just saying.

$3 a pack? That's incredible. Here (Ontario) they're about $9 a pack.

$3 a pack? That's incredible. Here (Ontario) they're about $9 a pack.

Holy shit.

I think they're a little more than $3, actually.  I don't smoke, but I remember noticing that when gasoline was $3.50 or so, the price of a pack of cigarettes was just barely lower (some gas stations have cigarette prices advertised on the big signs next the price of gas).  I know they're more expensive in other parts of the US, but anyway, my point is the same!

Naw. Get a DS, an R4 and a Micro SD card. Then DOWNLOAD Pokemon and any other DS game you want.

If you have an R4 and don't own Colors!, you are wrong.

ESPECIALLY you Grindie!
seriously, I'll fucking rip out your nuts if you don't already know about this.